1900-03-24 — Page 5

ON VEDETTE DUTY.

BY JANKS PERDU.

{Spoldly seriften for the Hongkong Telegraphy

hill somehow missed my why tuning the many his, and a high-fall, after several un- successful attempts to find my party; I determin ed to birouheni prostor

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1900.

I disturbed some loose stones above me that rattled down the hill,

All the strength seemed slowly leaving my fingers 124 "Closed my eyes.. it hardly doth struggling any more.. I wat so utletly weary,DEKA

Hetust have noticed Dia change in ine, for His grasp strengthened and i had no longer the power or the willto prevent him.. the blood | seemed bursting in my brain.. my tongue secmed swelling and filling my mouth...all the sins of my neck seemed throbbing and My position was at altogether to be envied, pulsating fiercely.... consciousness was fast I knew I was, at the very least, several miles leaving are my enemy's force seemed in advance of our own lines and the advanced retreating from me with a vast distance where picquets of the enemy had been thrown for was nothing but a blackness opening and shut- I was ward so far that really did not know..forting, opening and shutting eternally... certain how near to them 1 way,

just aware that his hold had loosed, but 1 seemed to have no concern in it. someone else who was struggling. self seemed to be no longer there.

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my

Further, if they had tavaly patrols out in my direction and their chivalry was” everywhere they might stumble héross me at any moment. I cursed my stupidity in putting myself in sath it position of peril. For it had been uwn fault really,

7: When the reconnaissance party was about to return to camp, I had left them to get a last look round from a near hilf. When I reached the top of it I found I could not see very much, as a slightly higher hill dominated me on the left front,

I had ridden.on to this without thinking and made my observations from it. When I turned to go I noticed the evening had drawn in very

inuch,

I rode hack in what I judged to be the general direction of the camp, but could see no trace of them anywhere. In looking for them amongst these bills I had completely lost my bearings ADA

it was I my-

When I opened my eyes again it was upun the broad stare of daylight: . A few paces from me lay my antagonist of the night, but could no longer recognise, him. His face was, cut and battered out of all semblance

manhis hair was matted and clogged with drying blood. a titin trickle of blood was creeping down his clicek, and passing behind his car to paddle on the dry grass. A terrible, ragged wound in the scalp showed that his akull was smashed as one breaks an egg-shell, where the little mare's

hoof had struck.

Scenting my need, and the presence of an enemy she had kicked the struggling man, splintering his skull As one crushes a match- box between finger and thumb.

When thy senses were sufficiently recovered to understand what had happened i burst into tears. I went

her and called her by all her pet

ing swindle had been committed. They could not find the dog's owner, and it is improbable that they ever will.

With more effroutery, but less ingenuity, A case-hardened

also now..wanted," ∙rogue, fecently appointed himself collector. War Fund, and, to induce people to give him money, promised that every subscriber would receive a souvenir of the war. Sometimes it was to be a trille from a hautefield, sometimes an "emblem," sometimes an autograph. Its naure varied according to the character of the person he was addressing; but it was always a memento that would be worth treasuring" By this means he obtained several sums of money-in the aggregate, perhaps, enough to keep him for a few weeks-and then vanished.

SHORT STORY,

TIDLEY'S RING.

Tidley was a fool. Anyone could see that with half an eye. It was writ large all over him. He was clothed with foolishness, as with A garment. His smile made you wild. His laugh made you wish to throw things at him.

often did.

He was my capitalist, my financier, my busi- noss

oss representative, my secretary my, manager, myadvance agent, my acting manager, my bag- gage-master, iny check taker in chief, my con- federate in my tricks, my stock hypnotic sub ject; on occasions my pianist. Always my handy man, but a foolish one.

Tidley once had L20. He inherited it. Some ancient relative in a moment of weakness had made a will and left it him. In his foolish,

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་་

struck my manly chest, "I'm worth looking captor however was obdurate and he was march AL”.

ed off under escort. It may be mentioned that ""You !" she said, "you're not worthy to subsequent inquiries amply justified both the black his boots | You, indeed! The cheek of course taken and his further detention. This some people! Tidley is a gentleman. And story has been given in detail as it affords an wours the lovellest ting.”-

admiráble example of the amount of gallibility with which the Hours credit us, and also of the | lengths to which many of our afficers will go in their chivalrous desire to help an enenty in dis tress. It is badly necessary to add that the safety of a whole forre might easily be com promisud by an adivit spy ilus trading on the good nature of an officer.

"

"Oh, ah, the ring, of course,”

- "A gentleman's ring," she said. "You never had one." And with this Parthian shot she went out and slammed the door.

It was an anxious time that evening. I had serious doubts whether Miss Delamere would But she did. And looked as turn up at all. smilling and friendly as if such a thing as "words" between us had never been. She sang divinely, I must say, that night. With, such expression Just simply ballads they were bat they seemed to go right home to the hearts of the audience. . And when she came out with "Home, sweet home," tears stand in my eyes, and I felt I could have taken ant kissed her there.

We had a good house, Far and away the best of the week. Somehow people had coine troup. ing in numbers. The whole thing went with a snap." Everything was applauded to the echo. We wound up with what I called in my bills

"grand hypostle seance,"

ce, I started in that with Tidley, Just to show what I could do, and then took members from the audienc. Tidley was one of the few people I really could-with some effort-hypnotise. Under the influence he did the most ridiculous things, said and sang the most ridiculous things, ac ant drank the most ridiculous things. In fact, he was a more complete fool than ever.

And he always wore the ring.

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It is a prinful fact that however mach "roine" of our officers may realise the necessity of exu- tion in circumstances such as the above, many others, accustomed only to savage wartare, have hitherto refused to grasp the fact that the vast majority of white men residing in the northern portion of Cape Colony are bitterly lostile to British rule and that many of these are active spies. Whatever may be the short cumings of our allerg in their dealings with their with and unscrupulous foc, it is very cer- 'tain that the Cape Government are far greater | offenders in this matter. Thus has come about a candliion of things no hation, save England, would tolerave for one moment,

“AS ITHERS SEE US.”

a few minutes' No doubt, tua, the horses and caress9P to the little mare. I kissect it in the saving bank, wouldn't spend a farthing. off Tidley's finger, and into my pocket, while here in exile, I am not'a Iver hit an admirer

No dan they had ridden off shonly, after I had left thein, expecting me to follow in began to get restive for the camp as the time

for Evening stables" drew on.

There was nothing to be done but make the best of it for even if they found out 1 was not with them, once dusk fell, it would have been madness for a panty to have searched for me su close to the enemy.

Fortunately the night was clear and dry. Overhead the tireless stars throbbed in the will depths of the sky. A full moon crept up the sky and swung there.

I first loosened the saddle on the little mare, unbited her and turned her out to graze for a little, its 1 had not brought a ration of hay for hr with me. When I thought she had had enough, i kave-haltered her, with the bridle rein carefully removed her saddle and reins and anything that, could jingle when she moved and so call down a patrol on me, Lastly I covered her loins with my great-coat and proceeded to cover her ears, and nose by enveloping her head in my cape, for fear she should neigh if any mounted patrol came my way. Poor hule inare, she couldn't understand at first what it all meant, surt told her what I was doing it for and she quickly understood

and let me do what I would.

I talked to her for a little and then sat down little way from her, leaning my back against a boulder,

been when

I wanted badly to keep wake so that if I was surprised by any of the enemy 1 should be. at the best advantage. Leat looking up at the stars, thinking they were shining' down on all my.

friends in England: I thought about my mother and my old dad-how sorry they had told them I had gone for a soldier. Proud they were, any way, when I got leave from the depot to run down and see them, and strutted through the village, chink. ing my spurs, and pretending not to see the girls come to the windows to look after me.. And then my mind went back to what bad driven sne to be a soldier at all... the girl who did not know her mind, only just well enough to spoil my life..... The wind blew harsh, and eager up these valleys and I drew myself together for warmth, had seen other girls since then and, it seemed funny to

names, I kissed the hoof that bad the thick red stains on 'it And:1:know the little mare understood..EDU MIGRAINE

FRAUDS WORKED THROUGH WAR FUNDS.

MORE OPENING FOR THE INGENIOUS

YOUR IMPOSTOR,"

home of tricksters, who are ever ready to turn to It is only once in a lifetime that that huge account their knowledge of Army affairs, and those ingenjous gentry who take advantage of every wave of public feeling, have such a magnificant opportunity, as at present. The genem! willingness to help the men who have fought, and the dependants of those who ate now fighting for their country affords both classes fine scope for enterprise. And they are not letting, the chance alip by,

Numbers of them are engineering frauds in connection with War Funds. Old women, prompted by that artfullest of artful dodgers the ex-soldier, call on the distributors with pitiful stories, that they are destitute owing to their sons having gone to the front. In some instances they have as a consequence promptly obtained relief Subsequently, however, it has been discovered that they have no sort of claim on the funds. The son of one recipient was found to be in the regular Army, not in the Reserves, and to have sent her nothing for five years.

Other people relations of men with whom they are in fact represent themselves to be only acquainted. A young woman came, to

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silly way Tidley persisted in sticking to it, put I happened to know him. One must know fools to get on in life. I pointed out to him his worse than foolishness.

That twenty," said I, is capital. Capital earning

I had determined on my coup., I must have that ring. Good as the house was that night it would be necessary to pawn it. I would slip it I had him hypnotized.' Then, if he made any fuss afterwards, it would simply have gone as it had gone before-for our mutual benefit. But I didn't think he would. He was too much of it aft came off beautifully. I secured the ring, and Tidly, coming to himself again. seemed not to notice it. I chuckled. I had whispered to Miss Delamere to wait for me when it was over and I would see her home., But when I had thanked the apdience for their "kind attention," and they were filing out, I looked round in vain for her. She was not there, or Tidley for that matter.

becitiggarly two-and-a-half is sheer im- a fool. And he dreaded my hypnotic eye.

ments.

I plied him with liquor and argu- At last he consented to chuck up his silly job (he was a jeweller's assistant) and throw in his lot (the whole twenty) with me. He became my capitalist with a big C.

In permitting Tidley, to join my tour 1 did hin the greatest service, as I didn't fail to point out to lim. A man so intimately connected with the renowned, world-famons Professor Mairibone, Prestidigitateur and Hypnotist, of the Unique Entertainment, was as good as made for life.

Besides the twenty pounds, Tidley had had a

ring left him- a superis diamond ring, well worth annther twenty. It was much too good for him, I often told him, but it certainly gave a tone to our entertainment. And tone is every- thing in certain provincial towns.

When business was queer-there were occa. sonal had weeks--and we got regularly stran. ded and stany, then Tulley's ring came out brilliantly. I should rather says it went in brilliantly. It paid our bills, it paid our gas, it paid our balls...we lived en Tidley's ring when weeks were bad.

It was at Silverstruke that matters came to a crisis. "Quisby" busines had been the rule all the week. The Silveratokians were unapi preciative clods. My picturesque posters, my largest capitals, my variegated show—always had appealed to them in vain. It was Satur dignified over it and said nothing, it was day morning, the exchequer empty. I was Tidley who broke the silence with his foolish

insistance:--

one office and said she was the wife of a certain bait in the Reserves. Asked to produce her. "What's to be done? Ere's the printer beer marriage certificate or anything that would ammerin' like thunder, not at 'ome, I said. substantiate her statement, she said she had Other coveys too. That old josser from the left that document at home and would go audience you've been 'avin' up all week to for it. But she never turned up with it.'ypnotice, 'e's been for one. Says if you don't Instead she sent a letter acknowledging that stand im alfa quid 'es blowed if 'e'll go off she had told a falsehood. An investigation was then made with a view, to discover rather night. 'E'll remain un'ypnotized to spite

yer" she had been associated in any way with Oh, an' Miss Delamere," he went on, she the absent Tommy. She had not. She know asked me to ask

doo to 'cr," that is all

I hurried behind the scenes and washed. called for Tidley Na naver. Instead a red faced man belunging to the hail came up and handed me a natë.

"Your young tau's gone home," he said. "The lady to There was a twinkie in his eye, "Oh," I replied, cuntly, but I felt a bit staggered. opened the note. I started. A scrawl from Tidley. It ran as follows:-

Joseph Tidley begs to inform Professor Martibone that he has left the Unique Enter taingent for good, and hopes it will now jolly well bust itself up," Miss Delamere has like. wise left. We are to enter the huiy bonds of matrimony at once, and as Daisy has got a shop with the Trafford Opera Company at ten- golden quids a week we except things to be quite rosy. Tonight's receipts amount to 13 25. 9d. I am paying Daisy's overdue salary with part; the rest I annex as due to.

"Your dia-respectfully,

That silly fool,

YOUR LATE Manager, 1.S.Daisy says my ing is a real gem, The one you have isn't."Advocate of India.

BOER IDEAS OF CIVILISED WARFARE..

of

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campaign to fit their onlors for all we know, What possessed the War Office to send out the first transports without artillery, I caất; explain. He know, or ought to have known,” that there were no modern, guns at tlië- Cape and that the Boers had artillery. It is humiliat ing to say so, but they've sent our inen down to be slaughtered. We had a letter from an officer at Ladysmith a month ago. This, is about what it said:ur position is strong to long as we hold the hills, but if the Boers get their artillery within runge, God help us. have no guns and they won't send us any."

The next man to take up the tale was RA engineer, a man who has seen service in many countries and who knows the Boer and the South African colonist as he knows the English

man.

"I am keenngainst Innsdowne and I endorse. all you've had to say about the system, but there's another point you've both missed. Our Military Intelligence Bureau is a regular mili- tary stupidity burchu. I was on the ground. two years ago and knew well enough that the wool was being pulled over our eyes at every turn. Every South African cofonist can tell you that old Kruger has known all about dir movements the last five years. He was warned ahead of the Jameson Raid; they knew even the route and the make up of the party. There bamanid in

was a time when pretty nearlydspy. They

the Transvaal and Natal was his Under the heading Military Mismanage would listen to the Englishmen talking over ment in England," a representative American

their drinks and then turn the whole thing over correspondent in London thus comments upon to old Paul. Then, the more intelligent Kaffir the War and its effects upon the English nation were in the same business and so were the Boar generally-Next to the way in which they colonists along the border. They swindled us. stand prosperity, there is nothing so admirable beautifully by spotting our own spies, and jäst in the British nature as the manner in which leading them around by the nose. Take the they stand adversity. Asan American, dwelling matter of artillery, the point on which we have been made the biggest asses. When one of out of the English. There is something in the spies go into Pretoria to smell for cannon, they English assumption of superiority, in their would make a great show of concealing a fot of contempt for that which is not British, their old-fashioned guns and a modern rifle or two, unrelieved strength and their lack

just to turn away suspicion, and all the time they humour as we understand humour, which jars had parks of Creusot guns in vaults under the upon an American, no mutter how much city. How did they get there? Some cami he believes in the Anglo-Saxon mission. through Delagoa Day-bribed Portuguese off- Church parde un Sundays, Pall Mall, of an cials, you understand and some were smug- afternoon, the business through in the city,gled through Cape Town, right under our notes, of an afternoon are, solema, heavy, deadening and sent by train to Pretoria. They came in Pinero in "Trelawny of the Wells" has caught piecemeal, packed inside of all sorts of goods, the feeling which coines aver me in an English but the barrel of a five-inch gun is a pretty crowd. You remember, if you have seen or

heavy oflair, and our customs people have në read the play, how "Rose Trelawny," an actress, excuse whatever for failing to spot them: I is set in the midst of a regulation British family, think the Afrikander party at the Cape must have visiting there as a buncee on trial; how she helped, or they couldn't have done it so success- endures the atmosphere of intense respecta fully. bility for a whole month, and how, driven beyond herself by the hatred of it, she cuts loose at last and scandalises them att for the pure joy of jarring on their sensibilities. Now, as an American, have an intense sympathy for Rose: I always want to do some dreadful "outro"

thing in a London drawing room of the conven- tional type: it would be a relief to my feelings, But now, when the stately homes of England are in mourning, when the best they breed are being poured into the unfilled gulf in Natal, their spirit is subline. No freth or Chauvinism. no disorder, and quailing, The French would have a ministerial crisis, our own nation would ring with press denunciations, but these English endure all with a grave determination to go on to the bitter end. Even those who have to face the grim and fatal truths on the bulletins at the War Office take it more calmly that we can imagine. And those stalwart, thoroughbred young fellows who are going out to die, the ones who have embarked since we learned that the Boers are dangerous and shoot for officers their steadfast acceptance of the eltu- alion is sublime,

Nevertheless there is a strong feeling of resentment toward the "blunderers, whoever they be, who have split Liritish blood for nothing. They are not howling now; the reckoning will come later when accounts are cast up with the War Office And I promise of newspaper abuse as was turned on Shafter after our Cuban campaign, full justice will be

Why didn't say something about it? Bless you, I did, and so did others. Once, st Cape Town, I spoke to an official pretty high up about some queer work I'd seen at Pretofta

Oh, I think not, ourspies would have found it out, don't you know, he said. Our didn't. There are lots of other places where they footed us, where we can only guess at what happened. How did they learn to handle their artillery? They know how, ail right eccugh, but it takes experience to use a modern catson, af the colonel here can certify. Well, those assinica spies of ours bad never reported up to the time the war broke out a single artillery manœuvre. How they hoodwinked us there is a big mystery. No one ever heard of a bit of artillery work in the Transvaal, and yet those fellows know just ho to handle the guns. Another thing, wa were told that the Boers would have about thirty thousand men, We are now fighting sixty-five thousand, with more coming. These men came from somewhere above earth; they didn't spring out of the ground.

"You can lay all that to stupidity, but there are some things that nothing but criminal care- lessness can explain. Do you suppose that France would invade Germany or Russia Turkey without knowing all about the country? And here we've lived next door to these fallows för twenty or thirty years, and had one war-with them, and we haven't a military map to bless ourselves with. Our generals are, geing into the country; they havn't even an excuse for s military map. I want to apologize for anything I said in criticism of American unpreparedness. in the Spanish War."

me to have spoiled my life' for one..... but I him because he was a neighbour's son, and linle bit. The se rather pressin' abbuter that is civilized and to whom the ordinary you that although there will be no such storm the Transvaal without knowing a thing about

I was much younger then.

I looked out over the misty reaches of the country lying beneath the vague moonlight. I shifted myself nad stretched out, resting my head on my helmet. I fell to trying to spell out the stars that seemed blinking at me so sleepily. I nodded, for the long day in the fresh air kad tired me then I must have gone to sleep.

More successful was another "wife" in tap- ing a War Fund. Jy some means she be came possessed of a man's "ring" paper (so called because it is stamped by the Post Office authorities in handing over reserve pay, which was considered ample proof of the genuineness of her case. After she had drawn the usual allowance for several weeks, arother woman

done.

I was in a London club a few nights after long enough for the first shock to wear away. The men who composed the group in which I was contained were English men of more than ordinary intelligence and more .than the ordinary British breadth, men who have travelled and are

the news of Buller's defeat came to hand,

going homa when this turned up and claimed to be the wife of the perbly"-artist to her finger tips"-were enough their conduct in other respects has on many willing to admit that their island i vulnerable.

I dreamt of

and campaign was over time expired, geing on the Reserve. It seemed i was being measured even now for civilian clothes, and the chap was pulling the tape too tightly round my neck.

In a moment I started awake

....

เ

A dark figure was kneeling by my side, I felt his hot breath in my hair hayes tooked red and horrid like some beast of prey, I felt his fingers feeling for my throat, and slowly tightening. Even in that mo ment seemed to notice the had a long scar across his chin, which in healing had drawn down the corner of his mouth. to me that seemed the worst thing about him for the 1 wished he would grow a beard moment.. and hide it,

All the time, however, I was striving to make him loosen bis hold... he put his ines on my chest, and all my efforts only served to make him sway and rock a little; so far I had prevented him getting a fair purchase on my throat, how long should I be able to do 10. All through he made not a single sound, he did his work with a deadly stillness, and per sistence that impAPYY 1.

my nerves with horrible forebodings

I made one supreme, effort and threw his kace off nty chest. This made him lose this balance slightly; and he slipped aideways on was, and his arins were longer, aq that I could not reach his throat but had to be content

gentleman out on active service. More than that, she was able to produce her, "marriage lines." Eventually the two claimants were brought face to face, and then there was a scene. The result was that the lady armed with the certificate was officially recognised as the spouse of the far-away Tommy. It was found that he had desarteif her about eighteen months previously, and that not until his name appeared in a casualty list did she know that he had gone to South Africa,

In some cases, again, people connected with Queen's bad bargains have had the in- pudence to draw upon War Funds. One re- servist duly reported himself, slept in barracks, and appeared eager to get to the front; but at the last moment the last night, or the last night but one, before the embarkation-he dis- appeared, and up to now he has been sought for in vain. Meanwhile, his wife, who, there is good reason to believe, is not ignorant of his whereabouts, applied for relief, which was granted to her. When the facts became known to the administrators of the fund her pay was, of course, promptly stopped.

There has been not a little trickery also with. reservists "ring" papersAs far as two or three large towns are concerned, none has been actually discovered, but it suspected that in some instances those who now hold auch or remote, with the owners of them.

She was somewhat of a bone of contention between myself and Tidley. He admired her. So did I.

"If Miss Delamere will have the goodness to prefer her claim to me personally I will answer ber." I replied chillingly.

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"Ave you any meney?" persisted Tidley.

No. "I shouted, "you idiot, of course not." Then in a chimer tone: "Look here, Tidley, we've got to face it; the ring must go again" Tidley looked at a nail in the wall and kept silence. A nasty sulky silence, it struck me

"I'm aware," I went on, we only got it out last week; but it can't be helped-can it?"

Tidley found his voice. "I'm dammed," he said quietly, if I'm going to pawn this ring again."

Tidley," said I, fixing him sternly with my hypnotic eye. But he shrank away uneasily, and abruptly left the room.

of the army,

Apparently it bas nut been grasped by many of the crities of our operations in South Africa that our army is engaged in Aghting what at best..but a semi-civilised for, on the very | falac assumption that it has to deal with one

laws of civilized warfare are consequently ap Miss Delamere was number three in my com-

plicable. War with savages, pure and simple, has many disadvantages, notably those relat pany. She sang at intervals in the entertain- inent to give me breathing time. Not a bading to the care of the sick and wounded who voice either. She had been a find of mine and of course cannot be left to the tender mercies had had an idea she couldn't sing a bit. But of a bloodthirsty enemy, such as Dervishes or she was beginning to find out. The local critics Afridis. It is true, say a writer in the often made, more of her than they did of me. Saturday Review, that the Boers appear to Such lines as "a voice of considerable rango have treated our wounded with great considera- Felicited a well-merited encore" sang sution and this is not the less surprising, that

to make any man sick. Now, when it came

occasjana aqt by any means" accorded with the to her disappearing in my magic cupboard, customs of war between civilised nations. Un-On one point they were all agreed, that lack of which was also part of her duties, I'll allow she questionably this is primarily due to the back- courage in the rank and file could not be iteld did that well.

ward state of civilisation in the Boer communi- responsible. They all believed most thoroughly ty. Nothing however makes a Boer more in the efficiency and honesty of purpose of the wrathful than to hint that he, as one of "the British soldier. A retired officer was the first chosen peple," is not at the head and fore to offer a heretical opinion on the management front of civilization. All the world knows of this profound belief in himself and his destiny to rule South Africa, and of his equally strong contempt for British officers and soldiers, Whether this latter is genuine or not, or whether recent events have induced him to modify his opinions, are matters: about which we shall kouw better before long. The brutal order whereby picked shots have been specially de- tailed to slay the officers is at any rate a proof that, however much the Boer may affect to despise the British officer, he at least has a wholesome dread of him. But this dread of The British officer and belief in him as a most dangerous fighting animal possessed of a mys terious power over his mon does not the less make the Boer view him as a very guileless Things were douced awkward. Tonight was individual. The following is a fairly typical our last in Silverstate. Unless the inhabitants example of the opinion held by the Boers of came in overwhelming numbers we were simply the intelligence of our officers. It was on "done up." At least I was. Tidley had his ring the night following one of the of course. I chafed at the idea. I pondered. As combats which marked the British advance

towards

that the officers of a certain long as Tidley was complacent about our pop- had turned nasty, Well, I folt nasty, too. If dinner as the evening meal, which did duty In spite of such cases as these, the various I could only secure the ring for myself, well.

for breakfast and luncheon as well on that day, War Funds are being carefully distributed. Tidley might go hang for all I cared. I thought was styled. Suddenly a man in civilian attire The role of the officials in general, as one ex- again. My liypnotic power Could I execute appeared, equipped with a large Geneva cross on plained to the writer, is to insist upon proof of

a coup de theatre that night?

his arm, and kiked for the commanding officer. A knock at the door.. Miss Delamere. To the latter be told a rambling story about his indentification; At the same time they give

Oh, Mr. Marribone," she began, "Mr. Tid-ambulance work and ended, by asking for corn the applicant the benefit of the doubt, if any exists, and believe that thereby are carrying ley's referred me to you. I suppose you'll refer for his horses. With the usual hospitality of the less better that lialf a dozen people should game, and so I tell you. How do you expect com was ordered for his horses and he was pro beeft inworthily than the one deserving lady to pay her board and lodging, and keep vided with dinner, which latter he proceeded to woman, thould be turned

herself respectable on nothing? Three weeks despatch in a manner fearful and wonderful to ve been trading now I've gone without to oblige you. Don't behold, Meanwhile he kept up a not unamus sundry expressions, admittedly English in had na food since midday, and my jointe felt cramped and stiff from, lying qut, in

in the cold at this little game. A man who was arrested at that's all night air of shrendavaddeflorbalont

Pandan Cambridge'hed a book on him which proved, "Miss Delamere," I replied reverely, "you conversation of our medical men It was whilst As I shifted my wolght from one leg to the he had netted 27 for himself. At Dytham, in will disappear in the show and in no other he was thus employed that an affeer made some other, the stone against which had set my Lancashire, & mora audacious knight of industry way, if you please," fixed her with my casual remark about civilised warfare, upon feet rolled suddenly away. This accident by professed to be collecting for the local news hypnotic eye; it had no effect. Come, my which our guest fired up and with a volley of destroying my support nade mo unconsciously paper lund Fortunately for the community, dear, be reasonable. Next week our bis will expletives assured us that he and all bis com- relax my hold a little; in an instant we had both by be hela fist in the nick of time, bo terrific' I always draw at Staleybaggs, patriots wers as civilised and a good deal more

"Next week) 124 always next week rolled further down, the stops, and the change Hoshdd teachic ille railway station, and was

10 than the British. Nobody ventured, to lind bean employed by my Fenemy to bring olize pounced on him, "While, however, a bone. Why, it's only me that's kept the show ceived with silence, some of us thinking

shout two depart for Wolverhampton, when you, I shan't stand it, I warn you, Mr. Marri argue the question and his outburst was re- A journalist of experience took up the tale ; blame Lord Lansdowne more than the himself again on top of me

I felt the end would not be long now. Every of such philanthropists have both check together. Where would you have been with sadly of the narrow escapes from painful death system. I have to apologize to you, aa. an moment little thrills ran up and chan my mated, others die ifill enjoying the blessings of out me Gone to smash tong "go: Del your he had survived in his attempts to swallow one American this Izat to me for something eta pop think this with growing ire and scornful finger of our largest kniver during dinner and I said in criticism of your War Department in aching muscles....thy Arms tingled and foft.berty. Humball senso was gone from my fingers ong Lat hire town the owner of a cer- "do you think that the publle really come to also of his peculiar manners, customs and cons the Spanish trouble. We have found the saine

padly wanted...This Intelligent' sie' All my despair and hope were crystallised tin dog is,

Mark Bankovni suse he shouldered his isck of corn and coolly asked, calling Lansdowne corrupt, nor exactly incom into the opeidel that I must hold on to the a man's wrists whatever happened Just go dir

place too big I ignored the course fettdark chhu na brad for the countersign" so as to enable him to petent. He's just gotten into Bus- holung louif I ever wanted to roach Amyz

"It isn't for want of offers I stop here! Don't pass put of our lines to his ambulance! And for him to fill. What the Colonel says about home and friends alive.

think that she added haughtily, wattested ills he would certainly have obtained had not, our way of doing things is true in a sense i the Staff officer who had been a pained witness of Germans showed that up years ago. But Lans. the festiva cene and bided his time for decisive downe has gone everyone just one better. action, gently taken the "Doctor" side and We will never know until the investiga made prisoner of him. Of course the "Doctortion comes after the war how much was highly indignant and talked very big about Buller was handicapped by the order the sanctity of the Ganave Convention. I from Home: He may have made his plan of

severt

3

And then the young Oxford man in the co ner who had kept respectful silence spoke ups "While you're talking about causes," he said, "what's the matter with blaming the pluck of the Boers?. Seems to me we were laughing at them a few months ago,"

There was silence after this rally, until sommer one spoke up

"Wait till they got there--here's to Kitchenet and Bobs!"

04.

To be Let.

TO LET.

HARFORD MAGAZINE Gar,

GROUND FLOOR, 52, PEEL STREET.

THE RETREAT-MOUNT KELLETT, TOP FLOOR, No. 1, DUDDELL STREET, GODOWNS.Nos. 8oa and 82 PRATA

EAST.

5. RIPON TERRACE,

THE HONGKONG LAND INVEST- MENT & AGENCY CO., LD. Hongkong, 23rd March, 1900

Entimations.

WANTED.

to the ground: He was a taller man than official documents have no relationship, near ping" the ring I endured him, but but now be corps him nearthe hivouse fire for their flank and take advantage of things since the A COPY of the Local "HANSARD}” 189I»4:

with gripping his two wrists, and, crippling his gripathi groghfedfghan He was silent, evidently for fear that, I was only one of a party not far aways who would come to my help at the least sound

For the same reason I dared not cry out lest I should summon the enemy's

;

"The British Navy is ahead of the times," he said, “but the army is far behind. I can't give any very good excuse for this state of things. We've certainly had enough campaign- ing in the small wars in India and the Afghan border. But our methods of warfare aren't modern, say what you please. I myself think that all this savage warfare accounts for a good deal of it. We have kept the pace of our opponents, who were people without know. ledge of the fins paints. It takes lots of energy | Apply to and bravery to fight Pathans, and we've devel oped energy and bravery accordingly, but it doesn't take any unusual amount of vigilance. When you war against an enemy which doesn't scout or reconnoîtré, you don't scout or recon- noitre yourself. Up in the Afghan hills, way, back in the eighties, we would let the Ghourkas do what little spying there was to do, and then follow it up by amathing into them whereever we found them. Why, we haven't met any army that know how to entrench and Crimea, The Indian Mutiny was about as tough a proposition as we've ever had on our hands, but it was so because we had a whole, great big crazy country on top of us, and not because they knew how. You know that we English are a blooming conservative lot; we like to do things as we've always done them, and it takes a big jolt to change our into those fellows Just as he would have smashed into a gang of Pathans, straight in the eye. He didn't scout nor reconnoltre nor find where he stood at all. He just asked a few them. It's just the way, he learned to do in

It's just the same way with Methuen, going straight up against the entrenchments. You Americans made the same mistake at Santiago, but you had Spaniards against you. Methuen went up against the best shots in the world. It must have been awful. My old regiment was there, too.

which Iudged him to be one of out the wishes of the public And it is doubt-ma to him. I'm getting tried of this sort of British officer he was at once made at home," ways, Look at Galacre's defeat. He smashed

ร

We lay there for ages neither relaxing his hold for an instant, waiting through an eterally that could only end in death for one of us.

RWAY,

Address:

J. J. F.

Office of This Papery Hongkong, toth March, 1900.

LARKE'S B 41 PILLS are warranted to

cure. In either sex, all acquired or cont. titutional Discharges from the Urinary Organs, Gravel, and Pains in the Back. Free from Mercury. Established upwards of so yeart, In boxes, 45. 6d. each, of all Chemistr and Patent Medicine Vendors throughout the

land Counties Drug Company, Lincol

know, too, which that one would be had on the war fever by posing Have been caught don't pay me, I shall disappear from the show. origin büt usually not forming part of the polite į India, Don't blame him, blame the system. England.

Another class of wibarbarised col talk of conscience, you haven't a scrap. If young rattle of conversation Interlarded with natives whore; the enemy were, and went at World. Proprietars: The Lincoln and Mid

“I looked in ny antagonist'a face, could atano sign of weakness, nor 'there--only the deadly, scold, determ have my lifeNIO TONALE N

A stone bensath my back seemed pain, so i morad aver so slightly," "Ai i dia

lectore for War Fund.

•

The btreets with a tin box, you, ha ha fimyou'with your motikay' 'versations. Faving eat p.and drunken his fill weakness' in our own heads of servica,. I'm not

de tahlilar at War Fund'

collar. Moved no lean by the our-legged collector than by lloso interest he was working I curled my lip contemptuously on ped many coins into the respectacle.

She went on "If it wasn't that I don't like wat made as to whom the to see Mr Tidley par upon, I wouldn't shy a The the official of the Ideal day, I'm keeping a motherly eye on him interested, and in the end they Tidley's an informal fool," I remarked "why adly diven to conclude that a' days,waste your time on him?: Now look at me,

MEE CHEUNG, PHOTOGRAPHER,

TOP FLOOR or ICs HOUSE, IN Ice-House Raad.

modious Promises, to eclipse, as heretofores now in a position, in his New and Com ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC ART PRACTICED in the Colony or in any part of the Far Easts

GROUPS AND VIEWS a spaciality, Hongkong, aand September-1898.

+

SIEN TING, SURGEON DENTISŤ,,-

No. 10, DAGUILAR STREET TERME VERY MODERATE, Consultation free.

•fléngkong, syth September, 1896

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